Tag: Moxibustion Therapy

Uses Of Moxibustion Therapy

A form of heat therapy in Orlando, moxibustion involves burning of pieces of dried plant near or on specific areas of the skin. Moxibustion means moxa (mugwort plant) and bustion (burning). Thus moxibustion means the burning of moxa plant. Artemesia Vulgaris (Mugwort) is a common weed that can be found all around the world. For hundreds of years, it has been used for medicinal purposes in some countries especially in countries of East Asia where it is a very important procedure in treating a wide variety of diseases and ailments. Oftentimes, Chinese medicine practitioners combine moxibustion therapy with acupuncture.

The Aroma Emanating from Moxibustion Therapy

Moxa is chosen for its powerful healing abilities since the heat from dried moxa goes through deeper into the skin whilst providing the skin with gentle comforting heat. Moxibustion treats a small area of the body which helps enhance blood and energy (chi) flow along the meridians (energy channels) generating a change in temperature on different areas of the skin that, in turn, facilitates a flow. A significant rise in white blood cell count has been seen in regions of the body where moxibustion is administered.

How Moxibustion Therapy Is Done

Moxibustion can be used in a variety of ways. One way it’s done is through a process called direct moxibustion. In the method, the practitioner places a small piece of moxa on acupuncture points (acupoints) and directly burns it on the skin. Because this procedure may cause small burns, it’s only used in serious ailments and conditions. The practitioner may sometimes put salt, garlic, a piece of ginger or some other herbs between the burning moxa and the skin to protect the skin and enhance the impact of the treatment. In another technique called the warming needle technique, the practitioner will burn a small piece of moxa stick that’s attached to the topmost tip of an acupuncture needle. This procedure enables the heat to go deeper into the acupoints along the needle.

In the indirect moxibustion technique, the practitioner lights a piece of moxa stick and holds it very near the acupoints carefully avoiding the flame to burn the skin. He may move slowly the stick over the acupoints to give the heat the opportunity to go deep into the acupoints.

Uses of Moxibustion Therapy

Moxibustion can be used for a wide range number of conditions. Its most common usage is for the alleviation of symptoms caused by weak circulation and low energy. A lot of patients say that moxibustion feels like a gentle but profound warm feeling that deeply relaxes them. This is an experience that can never be felt with other superficial heating technique.

The most ideal use of moxibustion therapy is for treatment of “cold dampness pattern” that results in joint pain and ache like arthritis. Many aching and painful joint conditions get exacerbated under cold or humid climate. Because of moxibustion therapy’s warm nature, it is reputed to help tonify the yang energy of a person and treat such illnesses as spontaneous sweating, cold feet and hands, chronic fatigue syndrome, and low energy. It can also treat a lot of gynecological problems and in breech conditions, where it rectifies the position of the unborn baby. It also an ideal treatment for flu and cold; it’s more like getting a flu shot, except that it works regardless of the virus strain since it strengthens immunity.

Spokane Chinese medicine practitioners frequently combine moxibustion with acupuncture to boost and circulation to energize patients suffering from low energy. Give us a call to find out if moxibustion can help treat your condition.

Moxibustion Therapy For Treatment Of Menstrual Cramping

The ancient fire heat therapy technique of Moxibustion is designed to stimulate pre-selected acupuncture points in the body. This therapy is one of many healing modalities that utilize heat for healing.

Moxibustion is sometimes used to address menstrual cramping, which is not only common but also extremely painful or uncomfortable. About three quarters of women suffer from menstrual cramping and it takes various kinds of drugs to treat it. The basic concept underlying all forms of moxibustion techniques is that heat has the ability to move stagnant energy in the body.

One other positive effect of Moxibustion is the promotion of better blood flow in the body. A lot of women have declared that this form of therapy provides prompt alleviation of painful cramping.

How Does Moxibustion Treat Menstrual Cramping?

Marlton Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners use moxa sticks to treat menstrual cramps. The sticks are commonly sold as wrapped stick. They have to be carefully peeled off before use, so that the practitioner has enough peel on the stick to hold it comfortably. Some practitioners remove the whole wrapper and use a heat insulator or a clean cloth to hold the stick.

The open end of the stick is lighted with the help of a matchbox or lighter after the practitioner takes out the wrapper from the half of the moxa stick. The burning end of the stick is blown out so that the end starts to smoke. Because this stick will be used on the stomach region, wherein the cramping is felt, all forms of clothing on this body part should be removed.

The parts of the body that should be exposed are from the lower part of ribs to the pubic bone. The patient can seek help from others if she is having difficulty doing it herself. Then the stick of smoldering moxa is moved over the whole exposed stomach region. The stick’s smoking end should not touch the skin. It actually should stay ½ inch away from the skin.

While the moxa sticks are usually sold in the form of flattened sticks, you need to make sure that the stick is above the stomach area lying in a horizontal position, which means that the moxa should be held flat. The stick is continuously waved so that whole stomach region receives the heat.

The moxa stick is normally waved for about 15 to 20 minutes. Because menstrual cramping actually occurs in a region lying over the uterus, preference should be given in waving the smoldering stick of moxa.

The patient must see to it that movement of the stick is generating a warming effect on the skin. In certain instances, her skin may become slightly red due to the constant waving of moxa stick. Once the treatment session is done, the fire in the moxa stick is extinguished. The rest of the moxa stick can be stored so that it can be used it a later time.

Maximizing Moxibustion Benefits

To maximize the benefits of moxibustion, drink a cup of chamomile before undergoing therapy. Lots of patients who have tried moxibustion have found it an ideal way to get rid of menstrual cramping. Also, following a session, the patient should lie down and rest.

Moxibustion Therapy For A Wide Variety Of Disorders

A type of TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine in Winter Park mode of treatment that aids in dispersing damp and cold from the body, moxibustion therapy is used to address a variety of health issues, including poor digestion, flu and colds, and pain and aches.

What is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion involves the igniting of a ubiquitous weed known as Mugwort. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners turn the mugwort to moxa which is shaped into smokeless compressed cones and sticks, raw grain-sized pieces or cigar-like moxa sticks. Mugwort, in TCM, is considered to have bitter, acrid, and warm properties and is used in a lot of herbal prescriptions. When it’s burned, mugwort has a warming quality useful for treating damp and cold conditions within the body. It also helps warm the meridians or energy channels inside the body. The acrid and bitter attributes of Mugwort can help rectify the blood and chi, expel phlegm and eliminate stagnation. Moxibustion is widely used as a complement to acupuncture, since it is used to promote circulation of blood and chi at acupoints on the body that are chosen for their particular function. The two most common moxibustion techniques used by practitioners are indirect moxibustion and direct moxibustion.

How is Moxibustion Therapy Done?

Practitioners sometimes burn raw moxa directly on acupoints in order to set off the function of the acupoint. The moxa (in the form of a moxa roll) may be burnt over the acupoint in order to indirectly warm the energy channel and acupoint. In order to heat a body part such as the back or stomach, moxa may also be placed in a moxa box. Along the energy channel or meridian, the moxa may also be rubbed in a tiger or lion warmer or attached to the top tip of an acupuncture needle that has been inserted into the skin to enhance the stimulation of an acupoint.

Direct moxibustion may be utilized to energize certain acupoints; scarring moxibustion works by burning an acupoint so that it may be constantly stimulated in order to facilitate and augment the healing process. When a larger region such as a muscle group or meridian is to be treated, indirect moxibustion may be used. This type of moxibustion is also favored in the treatment of children. Burning moxa on salt or ginger or other special techniques can also be used. You don’t need to be worried about the burning issue of the therapy because when performed by a skilled and qualified Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, moxibustion is very safe. Due to the risk of dizziness or swelling, some acupoints on the body may not be appropriate for moxibustion; nonetheless, the practitioner will first analyze any risk factors before going through with the therapy.

What Conditions that can be treated with Moxibustion?

Moxibustion is used for disorders such as:

sports injuries
sexual dysfunction
poor memory or concentration
painful periods
pain that worsens with cold
frozen shoulders
food stagnation or diarrhea and other digestive disorders
flu and colds

The Uses And Healing Qualities Of Moxibustion Therapy

The name Moxibustion or Moxa therapy comes from the Japanese word “Moe Kusa” meaning ‘flaming herb’. Moxibustion is used to alleviate fatigue and pain in the body. Moxa is a kind of wool derived from the Mugwort plant. Moxibustion is a technique that’s mainly used in Japan and China but because of its healing qualities, it has become more and more utilized by a growing number of people all over the world.

Moxibustion therapy involves the use of a moxa stick which is ignited and its heat applied to the body. The heat is often focused on the acupuncture points or acupoints. The moxa stick has various qi toning qualities. It is created in a horizontal manner making it easy to handle and to allow less heat to reach the patient.

How to Perform Moxibustion:

First, take a moxa stick made from moxa wool and paper packed in a cylindrical form. Hold the stick in a vertical direction.

Allow the patient to lie down on a comfortable bench or couch. Tell the patient to remove his clothes from the body part that is to be treated. Place a towel on the patient’s body to cover the patient and to collect the ash that will fall from the moxa stick.

Next, ignite the end of stick using a lighter, candle, or match stick. Allow the stick to smolder after which you can place it just above the patient’s skin.

Hold the moxa stick two to three centimeters over the patient’s body. Make sure that the patient is comfortable and that he only feels soothing warmth. To avoid burning the patient, keep the stick a safe distance away from his skin.

Extinguish the smoke once the process is done. You can do this by either snuffing out the ash on the end, or by immersing the stick in water.

You will feel energized after a session of moxibustion. It aids in bolstering the flow of blood in the vessels with the heat received by the tissues. The lymphatic system begins to function properly and the smooth flow of qi is stimulated through all the meridians. This therapy relieves pain in the body organs, stimulates all the systems in the body, treats rheumatism, eliminates swelling, stiffness, and tension in the joints and muscles, and alleviates fatigue. Women can find the therapy helpful in normalizing their menstrual cycles and in addressing any disorders associated with it. Because of the pleasure and relaxation patients feel, they often fall asleep during the procedure. These wonderful benefits can already be felt after undergoing the therapy even just once.

One of the disadvantages of moxibustion is that it produces smoke that has an earthy smell. If you have asthma or are sensitive to smoke, you may find the procedure uncomfortable or intolerable. Otherwise, it can be extremely effective for all kinds of pain. We recommend that you select your therapist wisely. Even a bit of carelessness can damage your skin since heat is involved in this procedure. You need to find an experienced therapist who has been performing the procedure for years on a regular basis. Moxibustion is actually often combined with acupuncture treatment which uses slender acupuncture needles to stimulate and adjust the flow of qi. Acupuncture in Fremont is used to boost the healing effects of moxibustion and to facilitate the healing processes of the body.

The Mugwort plant is considered sacred by the Natives of South and North America which they also use for spiritual healing. The natives use mugwort for magical purposes and believe that keeping this plant under pillows can help provoke dreams.

The Many Healing Applications Of Moxibustion Therapy

Moxa or moxibustion is an ancient form of heat therapy that originated in China. Its healing power is derived from the burning of the grounded leaf of a Mugwort plant (Artemesia vulgaris) and applied on or just above the skin. The plant is either pulverized and made into tiny cones or rolled into a stick called moxa. During a moxa procedure, a fulminating Moxa stick is hovered just above an acupuncture point just a few centimeters away from the skin. The practitioner carefully observes the degree of heat applied and collaborate with the patient in order that an acceptable and safe healing degree of heat is attained and maintained that’s comfortable to the patient.

A smoldering moxa emits a distinctive aroma that a lot of people find soothing. This aroma is due to the essential oils found in Mugwort which have a considerable influence as a form of medicinal incense or aromatherapy. Mugwort has been used by shamans and healers for hundreds of years to banish evil. In Europe, it has been a folk practice to place the herb into dream pillows to help ward off bad dreams and evil spirits.

In general, moxibustion has just about the same healing effect as acupuncture. Medical studies show, however, that moxibustion wields a much stronger and wider effect on general biochemical changes in the body compared to acupuncture. Moxibustion, for instance, boosts the creation of white blood cells in the body. After a direct moxibustion procedure, the white blood cell count immediately starts to rise.

Moxibustion also boosts the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Clinical studies confirm that prior to moxibustion subjects with a 78 percent hemoglobin ratio experienced a gradual rise in hemoglobin production that reached a peak of 90 percent within eight weeks.

Moxibustion also tends to have a general positive effect on lymph and blood circulations as well as helps increase the body’s ability to produce antibodies. Impulses from nerve endings of the skin caused by extreme heat of burning Moxa just above the acupuncture points cause the small blood vessels (capillaries) to dilate increasing lymph and blood circulations within the whole body. More often than not, this causes the patient to feel relaxed, warm, and sleepy. Moxibustion can be especially beneficial for people who constantly suffer from weak blood circulation or for those who often have cold sensations in their feet and hands.

One of the most ideal uses for moxibustion is for the treatment of severe diarrhea. For this condition, the acupuncturist places salt in the umbilicus of the lying down or supine patient and then places a moxa cone to administer direct moxibustion treatment on top of the patient’s umbilicus. The salt serves a dual purpose: to protect the skin from the heat and to facilitate the conduction of heat into the body. This therapy is extremely effective; it helps the large intestine quickly regulate the re-absorption of water.

Moxibustion Therapy of the St-36 Acupuncture Point for Maximum Oxygen Intake and to Extend Longevity

One of the most commonly targeted points in moxibustion therapy is the Hsu san Li (‘Foot Three Miles’) point or Stomach 36 (St 36) point. It is located a hand’s width below the knee cap (patella). It is usually used in indirect Moxibustion therapy to stimulate the immune system, improve digestive function, and enhance endurance.

Clinical studies now assert that oxygen Intake can be maximized by stimulating the St-36. The effect of Maximum Oxygen Uptake has been known to improve and accelerate recovery time from conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. It’s been also shown that Maximum Oxygen Uptake also reduces the rate of cancer. Hence, we may posit that the modern concept of maintaining health by boosting Maximum Oxygen Uptake follows the same principle as the ancient wisdom for extending longevity by stimulating the St 36.

The effect of stimulating the St-36 also reaches the entire stomach energy channel as well as the stomach organ system. Also, since the St 36 is located on the leg, stimulating it also benefits the leg and even the health of the entire body.

Preventing Illness and the Rise of Symptoms

The prevention of illnesses is perhaps the most important factor In Chinese medicine, including moxibustion and acupuncture. Ancient Chinese medicine healers closely monitor the early stages of health decline in their patients and try to prevent the illness from advancing any further. For them, treating the illnesses at this stage is much easier. They call this stage ‘Mi Bing’ which means ‘before sickness.’ ‘Mi Bing’ is tightly associated with moxibustion on the St-36 and the concept of longevity.

Smoking Cessation Therapy by Combining the LI 4 (Hegu) & St-36 (Hsu San Li) Acupoints

Since the St-36 is used for a wide variety of illnesses, Fort Lauderdale acupuncturists use it along with several other acupoints. One of the most frequently used combinations of points is the St 36 with the LI 4 (Large Intestine 4) point. According to the ‘Modern Clinical Necessities for Acupuncture’ combination of these points is considered a potential way of helping one halt smoking for good.